An eye cancer survivor who used to cover half her face in shame has vowed that “all that matters is your own happiness”.

Nicole Beddard had an eye removed before she overcame the disease - and now wears her first prosthetic eye on her finger.

Nicole, from Stockton, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare form of eye cancer, in both eyes when she was just three months old.

Following life-saving surgery to remove her left eye, she then underwent treatment including cryotherapy and radiotherapy to remove the five tumours in her remaining eye.

At the age of five she was given the all clear but later, at eight years old, a cataract began forming in her right eye.

The 25-year-old said: “Throughout school, college and my undergraduate degree I covered half of my face as I had become ashamed of what I looked like.

Nicole Beddard, 25, of Norton, who had her eye removed when she was a baby (Image: Evening Gazette)

“At the end of university, I realised it doesn’t matter what people think. All that matters is your own happiness. I have the wonderful support of my family and friends who make me proud of who I am and what I have been through.

“I now wear my first prosthetic eye in a ring as it creates a great conversation starter.”

Since studying for a master’s degree in health psychology and clinical skills at Teesside University, Nicole has set up a research project to spread awareness of the rare eye cancer and help those affected by it.

She is now an ambassador for the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT).

Nicole was invited to open Teesside’s newest Vision Express at the Cleveland shopping centre.

Nicole Beddard, 25, of Norton, who had her eye removed when she was a baby. She has had 9 glass eyes in her lifetime, and one has been made into a ring (Image: Evening Gazette)

She joined the Middlesbrough store team, and performed an official ribbon cutting, as it unveiled its new home in Wesley Mall, in the Cleveland shopping centre. It has had a store in the centre for the past 10 years.

Middlesbrough store manager Peter Bunce said: “Our thanks go to Nicole for making our opening such a huge success. As a child and into adulthood she has showed so much courage and her bravery is an inspiration to us all. It was very humbling hearing her story.

Nicole Beddard, 25, of Norton, who had her eye removed when she was a baby. She has had 9 glass eyes in her lifetime, and one has been made into a ring (Image: Evening Gazette)

He said the event was “a great opportunity to raise awareness” of retinoblastoma and the symptoms to look out for.

“Many people don’t realise how vital regular eye tests are to detect serious conditions as well as sight defects,” he added.